In this episode, we speak with Stephanie Melnick, owner of Melnick & Melnick, SC.

Melnick & Melnick, located in the Walker’s Point neighborhood, is a boutique, woman-owned local law firm specializing in assisting small business owners and entrepreneurs.  

In this episode, you will learn about:

00:46 - The ways Melnick & Melnick supports small businesses.

01:03 - Stehanie’s journey into the field of law.

01:34 - Her interest in supporting women through small businesses.

Why Local?

02:01 - Without local businesses, the flavor of the city is less.

3:24 - Being at Local First, getting to learn all of that first hand and meeting people and chatting with them has really made a big difference.

Funniest business story

03:38 - Stephanie tells a funny story about a virtual deposition with some unusual technical interference.

Contact Information

Connect with Stephanie Melnick of  Melnick & Melnick, SC

Website

E-Mail

Phone

Facebook

LinkedIn

Connect with Local First Milwaukee

Website 

Facebook

Twitter

E-mail

Instagram

LinkedIn

Connect with Podcast Town

Website

Facebook

E-mail

Instagram

LinkedIn

In this episode, we speak with Meghan Miles, the owner of City Tours MKE.

City Tours MKE started in 2013 and has expanded over time to include a wide array of tour experiences around Milwaukee including food, beer, haunted history, and Milwaukee icons. 

In this episode, you will learn about:

00:52 - The multitude of tours City Tours MKE offers which showcase Milwaukee.

02:17 - Meghan explains why she’s involved with Local First Milwaukee.

03:28 - Meghan shares why she thinks it’s important for local businesses to support each other.

Why Local?

01:55 - Being able to support your neighbor.

1:59 - The Really cool thing about Milwaukee is that you can walk into a venue and still meet the owners.

Funniest business story

05:12 - Being able to see the a-ha moment of somebody that, they experience something; I’m specifically thinking of our Haunted History tours, and we’re working with divining rods and ghost meters - and people’s reactions. 

Contact Information

Connect with Meghan Miles at City Tours MKE

Website

Facebook

Twitter

E-Mail

Instagram

YouTube

Connect with Local First Milwaukee

Website 

Facebook

Twitter

E-mail

Instagram

LinkedIn

Connect with Podcast Town

Website

Facebook

E-mail

Instagram

LinkedIn

In this episode, we speak with Beth Graf, the owner of My Family Roots Catering. We learn about My Family Roots Catering, what they do and how, what is charcuterie, what is a kaldbord, why fresh from farm to table, and much more.

In this episode, you will learn about:

00:55 – When you order from My Family Roots Catering you order for uniqueness and freshness and personalized boards.

01:12 – The story of My Family Roots - Before I knew what a kaldbord was or what a charcuterie was, my family ate that way.

Why Local?

04:35 – If you can get something that goes from farm to table, especially in these times,

you’re eliminating areas of contamination, and areas of handling, what is critical now especially with covid. And the taste is incredible.

05:38 – When you’re sourcing local, you’re putting more money back into the community; it’s like I’m supporting my family when I’m supporting local businesses.

Funniest business story

07:50 – The story of finger lime tree.

08:30 – The story about taking food to a lake house without a sidewalk.

Contact Information

Connect with Beth Graf

Website

Instagram

Facebook

Connect with Local First Milwaukee

Website

Facebook

Twitter

E-mail

Instagram

LinkedIn

Connect with Podcast Town

Website

Facebook

E-mail

Instagram

LinkedIn

In this episode, we speak with Tristann Rieck, the owner of the Brass Bell Music Store, and Lizzy Cichowski, the outreach and events coordinator at the Brass Bell Music Store.

We learned that the Brass Bell Music Store celebrates 50 years in business this year. It is a family business, founded by the Tristann’s parents. They focus on the families and students that are taking their first steps into music. And they like to partner with community members.

In this episode, you will learn about:

00:57 – The story of how Tristann took over the family business. 

02:31 – Tristann shares about the Brass Bell Music Store 

03:25 – Lizzy shares about her role in the business. 

Why Local?

05:19 – Music is important for so many different facets - our health, communication, relationships.... Everyone has to have the opportunity to experience learning musical instruments and literacy. And it is really accessible. 

Funniest business story

07:05 – One story is more general – the reactions when children discover instruments and how they sound.

8:05 – There is one specific moment when the little girl played her mom a ukulele concert.  

Contact Information

Connect with Tristann Rieck and Lizzy Cichowski at the Brass Bell Music Store

Website 

Facebook 

Instagram

Twitter 

Connect with Local First Milwaukee

Website 

Facebook

Twitter

E-mail

Instagram

LinkedIn

Connect with Podcast Town

Website

Facebook

E-mail

Instagram

LinkedIn

In this episode, we speak with Kiley Peters, founder & CEO of Brainchild Studios, a digital content marketing and website creation agency primarily focusing on brands targeting Millennial Moms. 

We learn about Brainchild Studios, how it was started and what they do. We also learn about Kiley, her experience, her plans, and her thoughts on how to create the life you want. 

In this episode, you will learn about:

01:48 – Kiley shares about how she started her business

03:20 – Steps to take in creating the life you want, creating your own opportunities.

Why Local?

06:50 – The community that local businesses create is incredible. You support local because it is reinvesting back into your community, but also because it is investing in the realization of other people’s dreams. 

Funniest business story

08:17 – Couple of years ago, the Brainchild Studios held a photo shoot with a bunch of kids. It was insane, like a jungle; it was wild, quite comical, and left us with a lot of really fun memories. 

Contact Information

Connect with Kiley

Website

Instagram

LinkedIn

Website

Connect with Local First Milwaukee

Website 

Facebook

Twitter

E-mail

Instagram

LinkedIn

Connect with Podcast Town

Website

Facebook

E-mail

Instagram

LinkedIn

In this podcast episode, we speak with Sadie Tuescher, owner of Wisconsin Health Insurance Advocate, LLC. Which helps service individuals/families, seniors, and small business with their health insurance needs.

We learned about how dedicated she is towards helping people, specifically in getting in-depth health insurance. Mostly, they helped service people in the Milwaukee area, but they also assist people in the whole state of Wisconsin.

In this episode, you’ll learn about:

01:34 - Sadie’s career history before she decided to build her own business.

02:16 - Sadie’s inspiration in establishing Wisconsin Health Insurance Advocate, LLC.

Why local?

03:53 - “Local businesses are #1 employer in our country.” Locals first are great in helping businesses connect in a non-transactional way, like helping in resources. It is also fantastic in helping businesses to emotionally support each other, especially in this pandemic phase.

04:49 - How Sadie got into Local First Milwaukee.

The funniest business story:

05:34 - Sadie finds it funny how a lot of people in Milwaukee know her directly or indirectly.

Connect with Sadie Tuescher, owner of Wisconsin Health Insurance Advocate, LLC.

Website: https://wihealthinsuranceadvocate.com/index.html

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wihealthinsuranceadvocate/

E-mail: mailto:info@wihealthinsuranceadvocate.com 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sadie-tuescher-12325216/

Connect with Local First Milwaukee

Website: https://localfirstmilwaukee.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LocalFirstMilwaukee

Twitter: https://twitter.com/localfirstmke

E-mail: info@localfirstmilwaukee.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/localfirstmke/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/local-first-milwaukee-inc/

Connect with Podcast Town

Website: https://www.podcasttown.net/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PodcastTownUSA/

E-mail: hello@podcasttown.net

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elzie_flenard/

LinkedIn:

In this podcast episode, we speak with Shlomo Levin, owner of Save Milwaukee Escape Rooms. He is also the owner of Milwaukee Seven Seat Bike Tours.

We learned about the creativity and excitement an escape room brings. Shlomo also shared a few things about the story behind their themes and why Save Milwaukee is different from other escape rooms. 

In this episode, you’ll learn about:

02:33 - How Shlomo got the idea to open an escape room in Milwaukee.

03:09 - Shlomo thinks that escape rooms are safe amidst covid.

04:20 - By simply spreading the words about Save Milwaukee Escape Rooms can already be considered as supporting them.

04:47 - Currently, Save Milwaukee has 2 operating versions of escape rooms.

Why local?

06:20 - Being local makes Save Milwaukee special. Now, several different escape rooms opened around town, but they are all franchises. They bring you the same theme and same room that already exist in another location, but you can never find another Save Milwaukee in other cities. “So, when you come to us, you’re getting something which is designed here and is really themed to Milwaukee.” 

The funniest business story:

07:11 - When Shlomo and his team tried to help a group by giving them hints, but ended up being ignored. The said group was so invested in the game, they didn’t even notice the hints that they were given. Shlomo said, that it was both frustrating and funny.

Connect with Shlomo Levin, owner of Save Milwaukee Escape Rooms and Milwaukee Seven Seat Bike Tours.

Website: https://savemke.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savemke/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/savemke?lang=en

Instagram: https: https://www.instagram.com/savemke/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shlomo-levin-18087933/

Connect with Local First Milwaukee

Website: https://localfirstmilwaukee.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LocalFirstMilwaukee

Twitter: https://twitter.com/localfirstmke

E-mail: info@localfirstmilwaukee.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/localfirstmke/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/local-first-milwaukee-inc/

Connect with Podcast Town

Website: https://www.podcasttown.net/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PodcastTownUSA/

E-mail:

In this podcast episode, we speak with Dylan Mazurkiewicz and Mike Walker, on-site business developers at Lakefront Brewery.

We learned about how they started their job at the Lakefront Brewery and what they do as an on-site business developer.

In this episode, you’ll learn about:

01:13 - The story of how Dylan and Mike got into the brewing business.

Why local?

03:20 - Not supporting the community that you socialized with every day doesn’t make any sense. Wherever city that you may live in, whether it is Milwaukee or not. The pride that you gain from being able to showcase your place when someone from out of town came, like, "Check out all these awesome places we have here in Milwaukee that aren't necessarily in other places."

The funniest business story:

05:24 - Embarrassing moment from one of their friends, named Russ, while he’s giving a welcome speech at a beer summit that they hosted.

03:20 - When they were still not working at Lakefront, they heard that rising stars Jack and Meg White from the band White Stripes visited their town to perform at that time. The two were planning on having a tour at Lakefront but were eventually turned down because tickets already sold out.

Connect with Dylan Mazurkiewicz and Mike Walker, on-site business developers at Lakefront Brewery.

Website: https://lakefrontbrewery.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lakefront

E-mail: mailto:dylan@lakefrontbrewery.com

Instagram: https: https://www.instagram.com/lakefrontbrewery/

Dylan’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylan-mazurkiewicz-7150a389/

Mike’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-walker-91651a9a/

Connect with Local First Milwaukee

Website: https://localfirstmilwaukee.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LocalFirstMilwaukee

Twitter: https://twitter.com/localfirstmke

E-mail: info@localfirstmilwaukee.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/localfirstmke/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/local-first-milwaukee-inc/

Connect with Podcast Town

Website: https://www.podcasttown.net/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PodcastTownUSA/

E-mail: hello@podcasttown.net

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elzie_flenard/

LinkedIn: